Detachable holder for bottles or the like



y 20, 1952 T. K. lRW lN 2,597,642

DETACHABLE HOLDER FOR BOTTLES OR THE LIKE Filed March 28, 1947 (Ittorneg Patented May 20, 1952 DETACHABLE HOLDER FOR BOTTLES OR THE LIKE Tracy K. Irwin, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 28, 1947, Serial No. 737,902

This invention relates to a detachable holder to be used for handling articles that cannot be readily grasped by the hand. For example, nursing bottles need frequent sterilization in hot water. These bottles are too hot to be handled, and it is inadvisable to keep them in the water until they cool.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a holder that may be used to transport articles, and that is simple and inexpensive.

It is another object of this invention to provide a holder in which a, spring grip is effected without the aid of other movable means, the gripping function and the releasing function being both positively effected by simple manipulation.

It is still another objectof this invention to make it possible by a simple manipulation to hold the article firmly during the process of gripping and releasing it, as well as to maintain a firm grip while the holder is in use.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose there is shown a, form in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a device incorporating the invention, shown as in use for gripping or releasing a nursing bottle;

Fig. 2 is a view, taken along plane 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a pictorial view of the gripping ele ments utilized in the invention.

The holder includes a short wooden handle I. Anchored in the extremity of the wooden handle are a pair of curved spring jaws 2 and 3. A ferrule 4 at the end of the handle assists in anchoring these spring jaws 2 and 3 in place.

These spring jaws are shown, in this instance, as formed of round metal stock, although other forms may be used.

The jaws 2 and 3 are adapted to be sprung over the article to be gripped. For example, a generally cylindrical article, such as a nursing bottle 5, which lies in a pan of hot water 6 (Fig. 1) may be gripped by the jaws 2 and 3 by forcing the jaws over the nursing bottle.

7 Claims. (Cl. 294-33) However, other objects that are not cylindrical may likewise be gripped.

The nursing bottle has two points of contact with the jaws. In order to provide an abutment forming a third point against which the spring action of the jaws may be used, there is provided a bar 7 extending transversely through and beyond the jaws 2 and 3. This bar I is quite rigid and may be supported at the end of the handle I, as by the reversely bent portion 8. This bar contacts the article to be gripped, and serves to provide an abutment against which the spring force of jaws 2 and 3 may be exerted.

The bar I also facilitates the gripping and releasing of the article. For gripping the article 5, the handle I is first placed in the position indicated by the dot-and-dash lines of Fig. l, where one end of the bar I is placed in contact with the article, the handle being in an oblique position. The spring jaws obliquely embrace the article 5 and, when the handle I is brought to the perpendicular position shown in full lines, the spring jaws assume the full gripping position shown in Fig. 2. The jaws firmly urge the article 5 against the bar I. This bar 1 is long enough to provide a steady, stable grip, obviating slipping. The article 5 may then be lifted and transported to any desired place.

Removal of the article from the holder is eiTected by first laying the article against a surface, as the bottom of a pan, and then moving the handle to the oblique position of Fig. 1 until the grip is released.

The inventor claims:

1. In a device of the character described: a handle; a pair of spring jaws rigidly secured to the handle; said jaws being resilient for resiliently gripping an article and an article-contacting means having a contacting surface extending through and transverse to said jaws, and serving as an abutment against which the article is urged by spring action of the jaws; and a member connecting said means to said handle.

2. In a bottle holder: a handle; a pair of cooperating curved resilient members secured to the end of said handle, said members forming an arcuate spring clamp into which a bottle may be received; and a bar secured to said handle and extending between said members and substantially perpendicular to the plane of said clamp.

3. In a device of the character described: a handle; a pair of cooperating resilient members secured to said handle and forming an acurate spring clamp into which a bottle or the like is received; and a member between said resilient members and extending transversely of said clamp.

4. In a device of the character described: a handle; a pair 01 curved resilient members rigidly secured to said handle and defining a segmental area and adapted to contact an article of substantially circular cross section, said members expanding against their resiliency to exert a spring force on said article directed toward said handle; and a bar member secured to said handle and extending between said members and transverse to said area for sustaining said force, said bar member being of suflicient length so that either end thereof contacts said article and forms a fulcrum point for said handle and bar member by which said handle may disengage said resilient members from said article.

5. In a device of the character described: a handle; a pair of curved resilient members secured to said handle and defining a segmental area and adapted to contact an article of substantially circular cross section, said members expanding against their resiliency to exert an inward spring force on said article directed toward said handle; and a bar member secured to said handle and extending between said members and transverse to said area for sustaining said force.

6. In a device of the character described: a handle; a pair of curved resilient members defining a segmental area and adapted to contact an article of substantially circular cross section, said members expanding against their resiliency to exert an inward spring force on said article;

4 and a bar member extending between said members and transverse to said area for sustaining said force.

7. In a device of the character described: a handle; a pair of curved resilient members carried by said handle and adapted to embrace an article of substantially circular cross section, said members expanding against their resiliency to exert an inward spring force on said article directed toward said handle; and means carried by said handle for causing said resilient members to grasp or release said article, said means adapted to extend longitudinally of said article, said means being of suflicent length so that one end thereof contacts said article and forms a fulcrum point for said means by which said handle may disengage said resilient members from said article.

'IRACY K. IRWIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

